YMP have the teams to beat in men's hockey matches

Straight through: YMP's Jarrod Carter (white) hits the ball past Lytton Old Boys Elliot St John. These two teams meet up tonight in a quarterfinal. Picture by Paul Rickard

Playoff hockey for the men promises to just about set the turf alight at Harry Barker Reserve this weekend.

Quarterfinal action is set to bring out the best in teams.

It begins when YMP A and HPY Advisors Lytton Old Boys take centre stage on the Hain Farming Turf tonight to decide the first of the finalists in the men's competition.

“YMP have beaten LOB twice this year to remain unbeaten in the competition, so they will have the mental edge,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“On the other hand, LOB have nothing to lose and they will put it all out on the turf.”

The winners go straight to the men's top-three final on August 27, and the losers will play Waituhi next week to decide the other grand finalist.

“I think YMP will be the team to beat,” Scragg said.

“They've shown all season how dangerous they are, and they won't let things slip in the quarterfinals.

“LOB would need to contain YMP's early attack to stay in the game.”

The match starts at 7.30 tonight.

Lytton Old Boys Masters and Gisborne Boys' High School start Saturday's action at 12.30pm.

“The winners will go through to the men's bottom-three final,” Scragg said.

“Boys' High will be backing up from five games in three days in their Super 8 secondary schools competition this week.

“Let's hope they've still got reserves of energy, because the Masters tend to peak at this end of the season.”

The losers will play YMP B next week for the right to join the winners from tomorrow's game in the bottom-three men's final to be held on August 27.

The women play their final round-robin games this weekend before sudden death semifinals the following weekend.

Tomorrow's scheduled 2pm game between YMP B and Waituhi has been abandoned and YMP B have been awarded the points.

The big guns come out to play in the women's top four, beginning at 3.30pm tomorrow when Ngatapa play Paikea.

“That game has ‘classic' written all over it,” Scragg said.

“Both sides have competed well against the likes of GMC Green and YMP A in the past few weeks.

“It would be no surprise if a single goal decided the contest.

“It would also be no surprise if international hockey umpire Amber Church took the turf for the Ladies in Pink (Paikea), and she would add to the team's performance.”

In the final match of the weekend, INA Contracting GMC Green and YMP A will clash at 5pm tomorrow.

“If the earlier game had ‘classic' written all over it, this one would be ‘extra-classic',” Scragg said.

“The Green Machine have beaten YMP this season, even though the score was close.

“Expect YMP to balance the ledger.”

In last night's game, GMC Kowhai beat Te Aowera 1-0.

“The winner came in the last quarter,” Scragg said.

“That match set the tone for the weekend.”